🔗 Share this article French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK. The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel. French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation. French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life. Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats. This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left office. That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel. Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented. Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances. The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response. Related Developments Why UK can't just return asylum seekers to France France withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security